While selecting Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and a handful of others doesn’t take much skill in a fantasy football draft, finding a late round sleeper who impacts your team does. And more times than not it’s the late round gem or guy you didn’t consider who helps you reach the playoffs and even a championship… case in point being Derek Anderson in 2007 and Chad Pennington in 2008.
This edition takes a look at two potential 2009 fantasy sleepers to consider at the QB position after the initial wave of talented passers have come off the board.
Trent Edwards
While he was erratic for much of 2008, only finishing with 2,699 yards and 11 TDs, the offense was relatively easy to defend with few threats outside of WR Lee Evans.
That all changed when the Bills scooped up T.O. days after he was released. In addition to what he brings to the table from a production standpoint, 10 TDs is probably a good number to expect, Owens addition instantly makes Edwards more appealing as defenses will shift focus away from Evans, leaving the speed burner and excellent receiver in his own right alone in one-on-one situations.
On top of this, his third and fourth receiving options, James Hardy and Josh Reed, will have favorable match-ups against nickel backs and both tailbacks are solid receivers out of the backfield.
And being blessed with playing a last place schedule, this all provides ample reason to expect Edwards to have a solid 2009 fantasy campaign.
Matt Hasselback
The aging vet endured a horrendous 2008 campaign and only played in seven total games as a result of a lingering lower back injury. And once the Hawks were officially out of it, they shelved him for the season as there was no point in risking anything long term.
But the outlook is much brighter this season. Not only is he healthy, but he plays in a weak division and has the luxury of facing a third place schedule in 2009. Seattle also went out an upgraded its receiving corps to include T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who will give Hasselback another option alongside Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and young stud TE, John Carlson.
With not much of a running game to speak of, look for Seattle to rely on the passing game heavily and use the short safe passing game to set-up the deep ball.
Sure to be overlooked come draft day, Hasselback, an extremely accurate QB, could end up one of the best fantasy sleepers in the entire draft.
